The World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) today announced a new strategic alliance with Gaylord Sports Management, one of the strongest professional management companies in the industry, in which Gaylord will provide advice and counsel to WAMMA on partnerships and sponsorship opportunities. The announcement comes two weeks after WAMMA awarded the first ever undisputed world heavyweight championship belt to Fedor Emelianenko, who defeated former UFC© Heavyweight Champion Tim Sylvia in a WAMMA-sanctioned fight for the honor.
"As we grow as an organization, nothing is more important than working with the right people," said WAMMA CEO Dave Szady. "In Gaylord and Jim Sanson, we've found a partner who we trust to help grow WAMMA as an organization and a power in the MMA world. They have the experience we were looking for to provide strategic guidance when it comes to who we work with going forward. We're excited to get started."
Gaylord's primary focus with WAMMA will be to engage potential corporate partners that will enable WAMMA to grow as a brand globally. More than that, they will also focus attention on finding strategic non-event revenue for WAMMA, including the web and mobile platforms.
"We're excited to partner with WAMMA both because we believe in what they're doing for the MMA world, and because we see tremendous growth potential," said Jim Sanson, Director of Corporate Sales at Gaylord Sports Management. "We are committed to helping grow the WAMMA brand into a global power by bringing in corporate partners who will enable WAMMA to do what it does best: Promote the integrity and legitimacy of MMA by crowning undisputed champions in every weight division."
WAMMA's next major sanctioned event, at Affliction: Day of Reckoning, will pit #4 WAMMA Ranked Heavyweight and former UFC ® Heavyweight Champion Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski (13-5) against #3 WAMMA Ranked Heavyweight and former UFC ® Heavyweight Champion Josh "The Babyfaced Assassin" Barnett (23-5). The fight, on October 11, 2008 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas, will be a WAMMA Heavyweight Elimination Bout - the winner will earn the right to face WAMMA World Heavyweight Champion Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko in his first title defense later this year.